Lawmakers this month added a provision to the fiscal 2015 state budget prohibiting cities and towns from setting a minimum wage that differs from the statewide minimum. The move was in response to a Providence City Council decision to ask city voters in November to approve a $15 minimum hourly wage for hotel workers.

Supporters of the council vote say it should be up to the community to decide on the wage hike. But opponents say the proposal would lead to requests from other special-interest groups and could create competition between neighboring communities.

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